What equipment do modern magnum photographers use ?

[Freakscene]

I really like this idea. The Zf appears to be a very solid camera with excellent image quality and features, and grabby autofocus with its beautiful native lenses. The Voigtlander primes would add the possibility of character with modern build quality and extra wide apertures. I'm still contemplating the idea of the Zf as a dedicated documentary camera with either my M mount Distagon 35 or the Z mount Voigtlander APO 35 or f1.2 Nokton.

I am at an age where my eyesight is changing, let’s be honest, deteriorating, and the way chipped adapters or manual focus lenses interact with the eye, face and other autodetect focusing in the Zf is tremendous, and a real pointer to other manufacturers (hint, Leica, wake up).

 

[Out to Lunch]

Leica, wake up

The SL's have it and their EVF's are superior to the Zf's.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Yes, but adequate, and, having shot in that type of environment a lot, I have also noticed that non weather sealed Leica M lenses stay operational a lot longer in very dry dusty environments than autofocus lenses, even ‘weather sealed’ ones. Weather sealing works better for rain and moisture.

Last time I had my Noctilux serviced, the note from Camera Clinic (as it was then) to Leica noted that the lens had “gritty focus”. Ugh.

Where are "weather sealed" lenses like Canon and where where are weather sealed lenses like Pentax.
And here is no sealed lens for dust if no filter screwed on and it has exposed extension tube.

 

[Freakscene]

Where are "weather sealed" lenses like Canon and where where are weather sealed lenses like Pentax.
And here is no sealed lens for dust if no filter screwed on and it has exposed extension tube.

Sure. I have found that even lenses with internal focus, a filter screwed on and a seal on the mount eventually fill up with dust where it is very fine and powdery. Deserts and very dry environments, volcanic dust, industrial sites, some beaches, all death to lenses, eventually. Leica M lenses tend to get gritty and survive where others sieze up.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

This makes me wonder, what gear would I use if were to shoot at that level of photojournalism, in the kinds of conditions they face?

I'd want to shoot something robust and lightweight, with current image quality. Lenses should be as light as possible. I'd still use at least one micro four thirds camera, like the Panasonic G9 II or Olympus OM-1. For a full frame camera, I'd be tempted by a Sony A9 or A7R IV, as this would offer maximal image quality, and there are a good number of relatively small, fast E mount lenses. Mind you, I've never shot with a Sony mirrorless camera, I might not like it, haha.

What about you fine folk? What gear would you shoot if you were a Magnum level photographer?

If you are taking pictures of something real and you are exclusively involved into it, mobile phone will do.
Pinkhassov is the proof it is done under Magnum name. Markov did unsurpassed documentary of Russia with iPhones.

Personally, if it is assignment, the only gear I trust are DSLRs. It is hard not to trust after 150+K exposures taken...

 

[Freakscene]

The SL's have it and their EVF's are superior to the Zf's.

SL manual focusing uses an EVF (and a very good one) but it does not work like that of the Nikon Zf. The manual focus definitely does not work anything like that of the Zf. The Zf with chipped adapters or manual focus lenses can automatically zoom to the eye or face of a person or animal detected or to a manually selected area. The SLs do not do this.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Sure. I have found that even lenses with internal focus, a filter screwed on and a seal on the mount eventually fill up with dust where it is very fine and powdery. Deserts and very dry environments, volcanic dust, industrial sites, some beaches, all death to lenses, eventually. Leica M lenses tend to get gritty and survive where others sieze up.

I guess, any manual focus only prime will do.

 

[sojournerphoto]

SL manual focusing uses an EVF (and a very good one) but it does not work like that of the Nikon Zf. The manual focus definitely does not work anything like that of the Zf. The Zf with chipped adapters or manual focus lenses can automatically zoom to the eye or face of a person or animal detected or to a manually selected area. The SLs do not do this.

The eye detect in manual focus is something that every manufacturer should copy and release as a firmware update for all existing mirrorless bodies - single biggest step for someone like me.

 

[Freakscene]

I guess, any manual focus only prime will do.

I found Leica M lenses seized up less than AiS Nikkors. I had not tried MF Pentaxes, but the HD Limiteds will go with me on my next trip.

 

[Freakscene]

The eye detect in manual focus is something that every manufacturer should copy and release as a firmware update for all existing mirrorless bodies - single biggest step for someone like me.

Yes, but when even Nikon don’t even seem to want to implement it in their other cameras, what hope is there of that?

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Yes, but when even Nikon don’t even seem to want to implement it in their other cameras, what hope is there of that?

It is code, could be copied to elsewhere.
Marketing decision to keep it on retro camera which is addressed to mostly retro lovers who are using old manual focus cameras to take bokeh via WO aperture.
Why would Nikon implement something which is not bringing sales for their current AF lenses.
So, win-win. Extra funky features for retro by appearance lovers camera, pushing for AF lenses sales on the rest.

As for PJ, I'm not sure how eye focusing is relevant to it. Documentary doesn't need shallow DOF.

 

[Freakscene]

It is code, could be copied to elsewhere.
Marketing decision to keep it on retro camera which is addressed to mostly retro lovers who are using old manual focus cameras to take bokeh via WO aperture.
Why would Nikon implement something which is not bringing sales for their current AF lenses.
So, win-win. Extra funky features for retro by appearance lovers camera, pushing for AF lenses sales on the rest.

As for PJ, I'm not sure how eye focusing is relevant to it. Documentary doesn't need shallow DOF.

I need it to work in the dark. That’s a fairly big part of how I would operate were I working as a member of Magnum.

This was taken at ISO 25,000 but still quite wide open. It was dark.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I need it to work in the dark. That’s a fairly big part of how I would operate were I working as a member of Magnum.

This was taken at ISO 25,000 but still quite wide open. It was dark.

View attachment 4848691

But at this distance eye focusing might become dodgy, yet DOF is deep enough to have focus on the head.

 

[Out to Lunch]

zoom to the eye or face of a person or animal

Ah, yes, true. Well, the latest SL, the SL3 doesn't have it so I suppose Leica doesn't want to go there.

 

[Godfrey]

I am at an age where my eyesight is changing, let’s be honest, deteriorating, and the way chipped adapters or manual focus lenses interact with the eye, face and other autodetect focusing in the Zf is tremendous, and a real pointer to other manufacturers (hint, Leica, wake up).

I'm at that point too. And what I found is that the way my eyes are changing, EVFs in bright sunlight have become difficult to use ... my eye no longer adapts between sunlight and the dim recess of the EVF very quickly, with the result that I'm blind looking into the viewfinder for 10-20 seconds. That ruined the way I usually shoot to the degree that I moved back to Leica Ms because with the combination optical RF/Viewfinder, I can see naturally in *any* light.

I've never seen much real purpose to the 'jump to the focus point the camera decides on' aids. I just engage the magnification and target what *I* want to focus on. Eh, diff'rent strokes...

Leica has been making excellent EVF cameras for some time ... The SL, the CL, and the SL follow-ons all have excellent EVFs. I would NEVER want to see the M line converted into an EVF-only camera; if I want my M lenses used with an EVF and have no other body, I can fit the Visoflex EVF and have the best of both worlds.

G

 

[sojournerphoto]

I'm at that point too. And what I found is that the way my eyes are changing, EVFs in bright sunlight have become difficult to use ... my eye no longer adapts between sunlight and the dim recess of the EVF very quickly, with the result that I'm blind looking into the viewfinder for 10-20 seconds. That ruined the way I usually shoot to the degree that I moved back to Leica Ms because with the combination optical RF/Viewfinder, I can see naturally in *any* light.

I've never seen much real purpose to the 'jump to the focus point the camera decides on' aids. I just engage the magnification and target what *I* want to focus on. Eh, diff'rent strokes...

Leica has been making excellent EVF cameras for some time ... The SL, the CL, and the SL follow-ons all have excellent EVFs. I would NEVER want to see the M line converted into an EVF-only camera; if I want my M lenses used with an EVF and have no other body, I can fit the Visoflex EVF and have the best of both worlds.

G

Agree on the M - it would cease to be an M with an evf only. I don’t even want them to build an evf in, a la Fuji. It is what it is

 

[Ororaro]

Who wants a screen in front of a window, telling you what’s behind it?
🤡😩😵‍💫🥴

 

[JohnWolf]

Magnum’s “What’s in Your Kit Bag?” feature.

Makes me a bit wistful for my 5Ds.

 

[JohnGellings]

Magnum Photographers use everything. In recent interviews (not 20 years ago), I´ve seen everything from Instax to the Sony RX100 series digital cameras to the Fuji X100 series to DSLRs to 8x10" film cameras to Phase One cameras being used. You have to understand that the art world infiltrated Magnum and they use a wide range of cameras. Even phones. It's not a pure photojournalism organization anymore. Pick any cool (or uncool) camera and someone in Magnum either uses it currently or has in the past.

As far as gear I'd add if Magnum suddenly nominated me? Well, I'm pretty happy with the Fuji GFX-50R, Nikon ZF and Ricoh GRIIIx. However, I would certainly add a newer GFX and a lens or two. Also, a Q3 43mm I guess.

 

[Dogman]

And what I found is that the way my eyes are changing, EVFs in bright sunlight have become difficult to use ... my eye no longer adapts between sunlight and the dim recess of the EVF very quickly, with the result that I'm blind looking into the viewfinder for 10-20 seconds.

This has been my affliction for quite a while. But my new Z5 seems pretty good in bright light when the viewfinder brightness is on max. Much better than my Fuji X-Pros but still not as nice to use as DSLRs in that bright light. Having everything go red sometimes really is distracting. I've settled (for the time) on using the Fujis only with the Fujinon AF lenses--that are great. That satisfies my former desire for a Leica RF. Especially when used in OVF mode with frame lines. The Z5's focus peaking works so well I'm using it very successfully with manual focus Voigtländer and Zeiss M-mount lenses on adapters. Just wish the bright peaking colors didn't mess with my view of the subject. My old Nikon DSLRs are wonderful with everything AF and MF from Nikon. The flapping mirror and the prism remains the best system in my opinion despite being dimmer than EVFs and rangefinders and the cameras being bigger and heavier.